Azienda agricola

Villa Petriolo
www.villapetriolo.com

“Each experience of hospitality must

invent a new language”

Jacques Derrida
Once residence of the Counts Guidi and later of the noble Alessandri family, the Petriolo estate bears witness to this great past as it
is still possible to see traces of the ancient residence of Messer Alessandro, which is mentioned in various documents dating back
from 1574.

Over four centuries, the Alessandri

family transformed Petriolo into a beautiful
property, rich in villas, gardens, vegetable patches,
woods and brick factories such as the one belonging
to the Golpaja farm, the place which today gives
the name to our most prestigious wine.

In subsequent centuries the history of Petriolo

developed in two ways, as a production centre and as the owner’s place of leisure, up to this day and age.
The Petriolo estate, surrounded by the
Tuscan hills, is only 40 km away from
Florence. It is formed by a group of
farmhouses gathered around the ancient
villa. Villa Petriolo offers a blend of history,
winemaking and wonderful views, because it
is located in a region which unites landscape
beauty to a very ancient cultural tradition.

Its closeness to cities and towns like

Florence, Pisa, Vinci and Lucca makes of Villa
Petriolo an ideal point of departure for those
who want to alternate pleasant trips to the
quietness of the winery. For those who like
adventure, we suggest the trekking paths
which lead to the winery.
The production

The production area covers a surface of 160

hectars (390 acres), composed of vineyards, olive
groves, orchards, woods and a huge hunting
reserve. It is an enchanting environment, rich in
history and charm, typically Tuscan, in which
modern production structures, now
indispensable to grant qualitative standards, are
perfectly integrated. Example of the innovation
in the tradition are the thermo-conditioned
cement vats of the cellar. Today Villa Petriolo is
a modern farming business capable of producing
products of excellent quality.

The vineyards

Villa Petriolo is primarily a wine-making

company, with vineyards located at an altitude
of between 150 and 200 metres (330-440 feet),
with a stony soil of medium texture. The grape
varieties that are cultivated here are Sangiovese,
the most widely cultivated vine in Italy, a small
percentage of Colorino, Canaiolo nero and
Merlot for the production of red wines, Malvasia
Bianca, Trebbiano Toscano and San Colombano
for the production of Vin Santo del Chianti.
The training systems used are spurred cordon,
guyot and Tuscan arched-cane. The grape
harvest is made by hand in the second half of
September.
The wines and the olive oil

Special care goes into the vinification and the

ageing of wines.

The precious white grapes for the famous Vin

Santo del Chianti are hand picked and placed in
the vinsantaia where the drying process starts
and which can last up to January/February of the
following year. The wine obtained from a soft
pressing is left to age in small oak and chestnut
wood casks where it matures for five years. Then
Vinsanto waits in the bottle for other six months.

The vinification of Chianti D.O.C.G. consists in a

fifteen days period of maceration with the skins
in thermo-conditioned cement vats at a
temperature of 28-32° C (88°F). Then the wine
matures for three months in the bottle.

The same procedure is used with the Golpaja, an

I.G.T. wine with a great structure obtained mainly
from the selection of Sangiovese and Merlot
grapes. Here the days of maceration with the skin
are 21 in order to extract most aromatic
substances. Then the wine is racked-off directly
into French oak barriques where it is left to
mature for one year, while the fining takes place
in the bottle for at least four months.
The IGT white wine Villa Petriolo is obtained from selected Trebbiano grapes which
ferment at a temperature of 18°C (54°F). The conservation takes place in thermo-
conditioned vats at 10°C(30°F), and the fining in bottle for two months.

A substantial part of the production of Villa Petriolo consists of an excellent extra-

virgin olive oil IGP. The olive trees cultivated on the estate are mainly of the Leccino
and Frantoio variety. Olives are exclusively handpicked, then kept in a cool, well-
ventilated place and pressed (within 24 hours) so as to maintain and optimise the quality
of the oil itself.
 Chianti Rosae Mnemosis 2007 confirms itself brillianty in 2008. In the
prestigious Guide L’ Espresso 2009 Chianti Rosae Mnemosis is placed
among 50 outsiders, wines which have reached elevated goals, each in
their tipology. During the tasting made by Ernesto Gentili and Fabio
Rizzari, Rosae Mnemosis 2008 has been indicated as Chianti of the Year. It
is cherries fruity, flowery, soft, juicy, sapid and elegant in the evolution.
Presented during the event Rosso non è solo un colore…in June 2007, Rosae
Mnemosis is obtained by 100% Sangiovese grapes from the Vines of the
Roses, evocated also in the fairy tale of the two sister roses, written on the
wrapping of the bottle. To witness a love for land end poetry which drives
its roots into a strong familiar tradition.
“A sepal, petal, and a thorn
Upon a common summer’s morn –
A flask of Dew – A Bee or two –
A Breeze – a caper in the trees –
And I’m a Rose!
Villa Petriolo’s latest born L’ Imbrunire (At dusk), an I.G.T Toscana, first
bottled in May 2008, has already obtained success among professional Emily Dickinson
tasters. The small grapes are selected and harvested at down. Grown in a 30
years old vineyard, the “San Martino”, it is obtained from 100% grapes of
canaiolo nero, a local grape variety which, like other authocthnous, is dying
out, preserving the charme of ancient taste, giving sensations of
melancholy, longing and torment… as it happens at sunset in the indolent
and sweet Tuscany. Good if tasted cool.
At dusk…… the spirit of September
A beautiful party took place at Villa Petriolo for the prizegiving ceremony
of the literary awards “The days of wines and roses”, in time of grape
harvesting, when it’s getting dark and the air smells of must and wine,
during which L’imbrunire was the protagonist.

“En mi cielo al crepusculo eres como una nube

Y tu color y forma son como yo los quiero.
Eres mia! Eres mia! Mujer de labios dulces,
Y viven en tu vida mis infinitos suenos.
La lampara de mi alma te sonrosa los pies,
El agrio vino mio es mas dulce en tus labios:
Oh segadora de mi cancion de atardecer,
Como te sienten mis suenos solitarios”.
Pablo Neruda

NEWS WINES
 The cultural project of Silvia Maestrelli
The Literary Award Villa Petriolo, centred on Wine, was created
in 2007 with the title “I Paesaggi del Vino”, to promote
unpublished works of Italian and foreign authors. The intention
is to explore in a creative way the relationships among wine,
economy, landscape, marketing and history. The literary award,
with the patronage of the Tuscan region and other important
bodies, is oriented towards the promotion and the valorisation
of the area in which wine is produced. Many writers have
participated in the first edition, widely overcome in 2008. In the
second edition of the Literary Award “The days of wine and
roses” writers have analysed thoroughly the overflowing
evocative potential of Wine.

The winner tales are published by ETS in Pisa. Every year the
jury is composed of people committed in the art and in the
valorisation of the Italian enogastronomic, cultural and
enviromental heritage at a national level. In 2008 foreman of
the jury was the movie critic Enrico Ghezzi. The prize living
ceremony takes place each year at Villa Petriolo during a dinner
in which artists interpret the imaginary of the wine each time in
a different way. The specialized press is deeply interested in
the events organized by Villa Petriolo.

With the literary award 2008 Villa Petriolo has obtained the
International Prize “Best Of Wine Tourism 2009”, whose
national selections have been overcome also on the basis of
requirements of welcome and service.
The prize giving ceremony took place Last November in Cape
Town, Southafrica.
Rosso non è solo un colore….. the prize giving ceremony of the Literary Award 2007
The history of this land is that of the people who live here, so closely attached to their roots. Hence the desire to
create a place in which, beside the ancient art of “making wine”, also the creativity of young artists could find its
expression. In Villa Petriolo painters, sculptors and creatives can exhibit their works of art. This initiative is,
beyond any doubts, an attraction for the visitors to the wine estate, for young artists an occasion to show their
talent and the fruits of their work and for country lovers an occasion to spend a pleasant day enjoying art, wine
and nature.

Besides, as member of national organizations as Movimento

Turismo del Vino, Strada dell’olio e del vino del Montalbano, Le
Colline di Leonardo, Villa Petriolo takes part in various events
throughout the year, in a region which is steadily increasing in
terms of quality and improvement of the Tuscan heritage.
In this very special natural setting, we organize
guided visits to the vinification and ageing
cellars, to the vineyards, the orchards and
gardens which sorround the Villa.

Then follows the tasting of our wines: Chianti

D.O.C.G. Vila Petriolo, Chianti D.O.C.G. Rosae
MnemoSis, Rosso I.G.T. Toscana L’Imbrunire,
Rosso I.G.T. Toscana Golpaja, Vin Santo del
Chianti D.O.C. Villa Petriolo and of our
extravirgin olive oil I.G.P. Villa Petriolo, with
typical specialties of the region: from
appetizers based on bread, cheese and cold
cuts to light lunchs and dinners with country
soups and roasted meat.
„
„
visit at vineyards
visit at vineyards during the harvest
Available activities
„ visit at the vinification cellar
„ visit at the ageing cellar barriccaia
„ visit at the ageing cellar vinsantaia
„ visit at the olive yards
„ wine tasting in vineyard
„ wine tasting in wine cellar
„ wine tasting in the garden surrounding the villa
„ wine tasting in the Villa
„ grapeharvest, wine tasting, cooking class at Villa Petriolo
cfr: http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=gs2xYYGh9Bg
„ theme tasting
„ snacks in the Villa
„ lunches in the Villa
„ dinners in the Villa
„ seminars, meetings, presentations and events dedicated to wine and other themes
„ only rent of rooms
„ initiatives for children:
„ ”Bread crumbs”, baking workshops for children and mothers
„ “the animated fairy tales of Padellina and Professor Forchetta”, cooking classes for children
„ cooking and photo classes
„ yoga courses for mothers and children
„ old agriculture tools making workshops
„ “L’alchimia del vino”, painting workshop (hands and wine instead of brushes and paint)
„ “Faccia di cuoio”, making of sculptures and masks made of leather, with craftsmen of the area of leather, Tuscan
excellence of the made in Italy
„ ceramic decoration workshop of Montelupo Fiorentino
„ “Trio Mila” (flute, harp,soprano) and “Trio DiVino Wine Women and Singing”, event dinner with music/or theatre
entertainment on the wine theme.
„ “Music&Wine”, tasting with innovative music and wine pairing cards. Live music on request.
„ “Contastorie in vigna, the vineyard poets.
„ Motti…divini”, creative writing workshops and show lessons on wine and literature
„ “The mistery wine”, challenge wine tasting, held by sommeliers.
„ Showrooms and selling of our wines “Villa Petriolo“ and of our gastronomic products “San Martino a Petriolo”
„ “WeWine”, house-to-house wine tasting

Villa Petriolo also becomes School of Painting, placing itself as a point of reference for young artists who intend to show
their art.
Visitors:

- individual wine-lovers
- business groups
- tourist groups
- Associations
- operators of the sector

Minimum number of participants:

Minimum: 10 persons and maximum: 100 persons
(the number can vary depending on the chosen rooms)
From 2 to 10 persons addition of 40% on the prices of our list
From 10 to 19 persons addition of 20% on the prices of our list

Days: from Monday until Saturday (Sunday on request) from 10 to 19

Closure: the week of ferragosto (15 August), from 15 until 31 December,

of each year. In these periods it is possible to book on request, but min. 60 days
before the requested date.

Languages spoken and written: English, German, French

1) Guided visits

We organize guided visits to the vinification and ageing cellars barriccaia and vinsantaia, to the
vineyards, the orchards and gardens which sorround the Villa as well as tasting of our wines and of
the specialties of our area.

2) Cooking classes

It takes place in the kitchen of the Villa and made by our professional
cook and translated simultaneously. Recipes will be than distributed to our guests.
 Tasting of wines with lunch or dinner
Wine tasting with AIS (International Association Sommeliers) wine-food matching method.

Light lunch
- Tasting of our wines: Golpaja I.G.T. Toscana, Chianti D.O.C.G., L’Imbrunire I.G.T. and our extra-virgin
olive oil I.G.P. served with:
Crostini (slices of toasted Tuscan bread) with typical Tuscan sauces, that can vary depending on the
season;
Homemade Tuscan bread with mixed Tuscan cold cuts and Pecorino cheese;
Typical Tuscan bread soup (minestra di pane or pappa al pomodoro)
And to conclude: tasting of our Grappa del Chianti and Vin Santo del Chianti D.O.C. served with typical
small almond biscuits.

Complete lunch or dinner

- Aperitif under the gazebo in spring/summer and in the Villa in autumn/winter.
- Tasting of all our wines: Golpaja I.G.T. Toscana, Chianti D.O.C.G., “Chianti of the year 2009” Rosae
MnemoSis, L’Imbrunire I.G.T. Toscana with a complete Tuscan menu from appetizers to dessert,
accompanied by our dessert wine Vin Santo del Chianti and Grappa del Chianti. The dinner takes place
in the Villa, where there is a typically Tuscan big kitchen with a huge chimney made of stone, wood
sculptures and paintings.
 “Trio Mila and
Trio DiVino“

Villa Petriolo organizes cocktails, event-lunchs and dinners with music or theatre entertainment on the wine theme.

“Wine, women and singing”

Soprano: Delia Palmieri
Flute: Federica Baronti
Harp: Diana Colosi

Songs:
Lorenzo il Magnifico (1449 - 1492): “Il Trionfo di Bacco e Arianna”
C. W. Gluck (1714 - 1787) : “La danza degli Spiriti Beati”
F. Chopin (1810 - 1849): “Szynkareczko, szafareczko”
F. Morlacchi (1784 - 1841) : “Il pastore Svizzero”
E. Dinelli (2007): “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”
Sir. Henry R. Bishop (1868-1939): “Lo! Here the Gentle Lark!”
G. Rosini (1792 - 1868): “L’Orgia”- Arietta da Les Soirées Musicales
P. Mascagni (1863 - 1945): Intermezzo da “Cavalleria Rusticana”
G. Verdi (1813 - 1901) : “Il brindisi”
G. Verdi (1813 -1901) : “Libiam nei lieti calici”
J. Strauss (1825 - 1899): “Vino, donne e canto”
G. Toja (1830): “Notturno Op. 9” - Introduzione, Tema e Valzer
J. Offenbach (1819 - 1880): da “La Périchole”- “Ah! Quel diner“
G. Gershwin (1896 -1983) : “A Gershwin Sampler“
 Yoga courses for mothers and children from 6 to 12 years

Reading fairy tales and legends and inspired by nature and the animals, thanks to yoga
the child’s potential develops itself. Children and their mothers begin to know their
body, balance and breathing, and reach relaxation in a comfortable and suggestive place.
Snacks with healthy food of the area.
 Cooking and photo courses for adults and children

At Villa Petriolo you can learn how to prepare tasty recipes, learning how
to use various spicies and aromas, herbs and fruit raised in our farm.
Before eating the coloured fruits and vegetables will be engraved.
 I poeti vignaioli
The vineyards poets

The words of wine told among the rows of vines, the cellar and the barriccaia.
The history of our land, our glorious past, Isabella de’ Medici, the Alessandri family, Leonardo Da Vinci’s
agriculture inventions. Talented actors will lead us to the discover of tradition.

The association of the farms from Empolese-Valdelsa area, in Florence province, with the contribution of the
Tuscany region, has published a new Guide Book called "La Fattoria della Cultura" (The Culture Farm).
The text lists the 31 farms that, on that territory, have developed didactic paths aiming to enhance the concept
of "short distribution chain" and direct shopping at the farms. Villa Petriolo, getting more and more involved in
the promotion of the wine of the Montalbano region by matching it with culture, participates in this initiative
proposing 2 educative projects for tourists: "I poeti vignaioli" (The wine makers poets. Story tellers in the
vineyards) and "L'Alchimia del vino" (wine alchemy).

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SInsb1y6SY&feature=related
 “Crumbs bread” baking workshop

Bread means love, home, family, work, tradition and passion… and why not also play
and adventure? We discover again what for our grandparents was the king of the table
with wine: bread. The participants are provided with flour, wheast, water and salt and
can realize their form of bread.

With educator/animator Andrea Vagnoli

 Workshop for the creation of agriculture tools, toys,
handicraft for children and boys

A workshop to discover the craft activities, like the working of baskets, the making of small toys using
natural materials. A way to learn by amusing in the farm, immersed in nature. A different way to let
children and boys participate in the life of a Tuscan farm, in an ecological way of life, following the natural
cycle of seasons. During wheat harvest you can make tools like ploughs, sowing machines, transport carts,
canes, old threshing machines, measures, fans. During grape harvest you can create bins, handpress,
barrels, alembics. In the old Villa a big chimney made of stone gives a suggestive atmosphere to the
kitchen activities: kitchen cupboards, for the baking of bread and cooking of pasta, various tools like the
press, the tool to roast barley, the pan for cooking focaccia bread on the flame, old baskets for the water.
Outiside, there is a small museum of the Peasant Art, with agriculture machinery and cars, which reflect
the changing in the past hundred years in agriculture due to the mechanization. The material used are
wood, clay, straw. There is also the possibility to visit the Museo Ideale Leonardo Da Vinci, only a few
kilometres away from Cerreto Guidi, where you can see the agriculture machines created by the genius of
Leonardo: inventions for the grapes, barrels for the wine, the robotic crusher.
 “The alchemy of wine”
Painting with wine and hands instead of colours and brushes

On the big table of the kitchen or outside under the patio pieces of chipboard of
different forms are placed …. to be spotted with wine and hands! We use only the
natural pigments of wine, the tannins and the anthocyans of red wine and flavones of
white wine, which, penetrating the chipboard, after the evaporation of the alcoholic and
water part, give the ultimate colour. The colour, by drying out oxidizes and is fixed on
the cellulose.

You can painting whatever you like, with the grapes raised in Villa Petriolo!
 WeWine
A pleasant day playing with food and wine pairing, to know and taste together Tuscan wines, with an
expert sommelier, directly to your home. You and your friends could learn to appreciate the different
nuances, the aromas, the taste, the personality of three great wines produced in Villa Petriolo in Cerreto
Guidi, in the heart of the medicean Tuscany with the tasting of high quality food, ideal to enhance the
taste of these wines of ancient tradition.

Wine tasting will last about two hours and consists of a guided tasting of the following wines:

„ L’Imbrunire, IGT Rosso Toscano from 100% Canaiolo nero

„ Chianti DOCG Rosae MnemoSis from 100% Sangiovese
(defined Chianti of the Year by the prestigious
Guida ai Vini dell’Espresso 2009)
„ Golpaja IGT Toscana, from Sangiovese and Merlot
„ Chianti DOCG Villa Petriolo, from Sangiovese and Colorino
„ Vinsanto del Chianti DOC Villa Petriolo

The wine tasting will be accompanied by a selection of Tuscan cheeses

and cold cuts, bread, extra virgin olive oil IGP Villa Petriolo and honey.
The We wine experience takes place in Tuscany and lasts about two hours.
The maximum number of people is 8.
In every period of the year, on request, at least two weeks before
Time of the wine tasting 8 p.m.
To the participant will be given: glasses, wine tasting cards, Villa Petriolo
brochures and gadgets.
We don’t provide tablecloth and water glasses.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnnBOskz4z0
On request, possibility to prepare together a real Tuscan dinner with wine tasting to your house, with qualified chef and
sommelier.
 Faccia di cuoio
Creation of sculptures and masks made of leather

You can create your own sculpture made of clay, on which you spread the wet leather
Than you beat the surface with a horn hammer and paint with the chosen colour your
furnishing or theatrical masks and sculptures.
A workshop with craftsmen of the tan art, attested since the Middle Ages in the close
area of Leather, still today Tuscan excellence of the made in Italy.
On request, visit to a leather factory, where you can admire the Tuscan handicraft
tradition and buy precious bags, shoes and handmade articles.
On request, visit to a factory outlet, where you can buy branded bags, shoes and leather
clothes.
 Laboratory of ceramic decoration
At Villa Petriolo you can learn how to decorate the famous ceramic of Montelupo Fiorentino, under the
guide of expert craftsmen, to carry home a piece of history!
This art originated in the 1300. From 1430 to 1530 the creations had been exported worldwide.
At the beginning of 1900, the local ceramic had a new impulse, with the flourishing of many small
activities which, after 1950, have drawn great artists and designers like Bruno Bagnoli, Aldo Londi, Eva
Zeiseled Ettore Sottass.
On request, in the afternoon you can visit a craftman’s workshop at Montelupo, only a few kilometres
from Cerreto Guidi, where people work at the lathe and decoration.

You can also visit the Museum della Ceramica at Montelupo Fiorentino.
Here you can buy the famous Arlecchini, a precious colletion of artistic ceramics.
Funny charachters made of ceramic.

.
 Contact

Azienda agricola Villa Petriolo

Via di Petriolo, 7
50050 - Cerreto Guidi (FI)
ITALY

tel. +39 0571 55284

fax. +39 0571 55081

e-mail: winetasting@villapetriolo.com – info@villapetriolo.com

silviamaestrelli@villapetriolo.com
ufficio.stampa@villapetriolo.com

website: www.villapetriolo.com
blog: www.divinando.blogspot.com

Wine-tasting video by Federico Curtaz:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vbTQNJ4upI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdpBNZBJbII&feature=related

Villa Petriolo Literary Awards, 2008 edition, video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlAYxpiW_4A&feature=related